hi, i just fitted a new sensor too, to be honest i would have rathered it was done for me but decided to have a go, like yourself i wasnt confident. It sounds harder than it was, as long as you have a decent ratchet set, allan keys and a trolley jack you`l be fine. Change the oil and filter while your at it and you too will be beaming from ear to ear when youve finished. 
instuctions are on my post, 2nd or 3rd page(horney blonde babe) something like that.
so much good advice on this forum,
i took the time to look through a load of pages yesterday and the same today
Cant fault it thanks guys
That's great thanks, don't suppose you have a link to the forum post? Can't seem to find it.
I had a go today at repairing / soldering those wires in the pics I posted but still have same problems despite from what I can see under the car the rest of the wiring being OK to the sensor. It does now however consistently show the following issues on VAGCOM:
Address 01: Engine
Controller: 037 906 025 R
Component: SIMOS 4S 2104
Coding: 00000
Shop #: WSC 99999
1 Fault Found:
00515 - Camshaft Position (Hall) Sensor (G40)
16-10 - Signal Outside Specifications - Intermittent
Readiness: N/A
Do you think it is worth the £50 and replace the Crank sensor given this new Hall sender diagnosis?could this be a different underlying issue? The car does smell petroly and VAGCOM used to give a lambda warning but doesn't any more. Could the lambda have fully packed in and cause this? or unrelated?
Scratching my head as to what to tackle next.